Water aerator



WATER AERATOR Filed Feb. 23, 1950 INVENTOIRS Patented Apr. 13,` 1954 miErnest H. Bucknell, twelve and one-half per cent toy Mabel Bucknell, tenper cent to Pearl Raiph nfietchr and White Bleteher, twenty i Bucknell*Liston,

-five per cent to Marcia ten perI cent to `James H.

ertson l ApplicationFebuary 23, 19x50, Serial'No. 145;,856`

This inventionfrelates-to a new and Jimproved `device-for mixing a gas,such as air, withJ a liquid,suchaswater. l f- It-has been found thatiifa 'solidstreambf water strikes a solid surface, considerable splashingwill result. This splashing can `besubstan- 1 tially eliminated i -by'reducingl the velocity of `the water, nely dividing the stream Jof-\vate1'-and thoroughly mixing air with the water. It is therefore anobject of this invention to provide a device which will eiiicientlyaccomplish these functions.

It is frequently desirable to be able to adjust the degree of aerationof the Water and, correspondingly, the velocity of the water leavingIthe aerator. It is a further object of this invention to provide anaerator inwhich these functions can be effectively controlled.

It is a further object of this invention to .provide an aerator whereinforeign matter, such as sand or the like, can be flushed withoutremoving or dismantling the aerator.

The aerating device embodying this invention preferably includes ahousing providing a mixing chamber into which water is passed onto waterdispersing means which diverts the iiow of Water past an air ejectormeans drawing air into the mixing chamber, where the outlet from thechamber is provided with means `for mixing the air into the Water, andwhich also functions to iinely divide the stream of water and reduce thevelocity of the water leaving the aerator.

In accordance with this invention, the elements are so combined as toprovide' a structure which is self Iiushing and in which it is possibleto adjust the degree of aeration of the water and, correspondingly, thevelocity of the water leaving the aerator.

Still further objects and advantages of this invention will be readilyapparent from the following specication and the appended drawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate the sameparts:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an aerator embodying this inventionadapted to be engaged to an ordinary household fixture.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the upper side of the deflecting member.

Figure 3 is a side view of the deecting member.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the underside of the denecting member.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a modification of this invention.

The housing providing a mixing chamber may .1.o claims. 01., Zele-7.6)

'be constructed,` as isshown in the drawings illus trating apreferredVembodimentlof .thisy invention, of a casing `IB, provided withathreadedstud I2 adapting `the aerator to be attached'to a source of liquidlunder pressure, and -ahollow capii# which `is secured to saidcasing-@by any suitable means, such as threads i6. Thermixing chamberiglformed within the casing it and the capf I4, is provided WithandnletZlif'through `*the casing lthrough-iwhich water enters the -f mixingchamber and al discharged@ Vfromi'the `The-water dispensing means;generally desigmated-24; ispreierably constructed as illustrated inFigure 3. The circular base 261 of theldis persing means islslidably'retainedwithin-A the i mixing chamber t8 by the `annular ridge 28 oflthe cap I6.

i in themixing chamber'.

Rigidly attached to the circular base 25, as hereinafter will bedescribed, is the mushroom which'` is positioned directly below theinlet `20 whenithe water dispersing means is inserted This mushroom`func- ,tionsto' divert rthe incoming water radially upon the walls ofthe mixing chamber I8;

i It will be' noted 'that by tighteningand looseiiingthe cap I5 themushroom 3i) may be raised land lowered since thedispersing means 24 -is"reta'inedby the"annula`r` ridge 28 in said cap.

The ability to raise and lower thef` mushroom permits effective controlof the velocity and degreeA of dispersion of the incoming Water and falso the degree of aeration `as "hereinafterA described. Y

YY1The upper surface of the mushroom 3l! may be provided with aplurality of grooves 32 so that water `will still pass through theaerator when the cap is sufficiently tightened to hold themushroomagainst the casing IIJ; When the cap M is `loosened so that aconsiderable `gap occurs between the mushroom 3u and "thecasing i6' theradial deiiection of the incoming water is reduced to a minimum. .Alarge`volume of water under these conditions may be "admitted to iiush outthe aerator carryingwith it any foreignA matter which may have `beentrapped in the aerator. f ".fhe air ejector means in this particularembodiment of our invention is formed integral with the water dispersingmeans. A plurality of U-shaped channel members 34 is provided formingpassages or vents 'communicating with the openings 36 inthe housing topermit air Yto enter @the mixing `chamber 18. The air then passes'imma-cylindrical air column 38 which is rigidly 3 attached to the vents34. The fins 40, mounted in said-.air'columm then divertthe air upward-1y where it is drawn'out through the openings 42 in the air column bythe water radially defiected by the mushroom 36, which is rigidlymounted on top of said air column.

The means for mixing the air drawn into the mixing chamber by theradially derlected'-'water may be in the form of a screen 44,?which ismounted in any suitable manner .around the inner wall of the casing Illopposite the mushroom 36 so that the water deflected radiallylby themushroom will strike said screen. When this radially deiiected waterstrikes the-screen it is thoroughly mixed with the. entrapped air .drawn4 in through the air ejector means and finely di` vided. A large portionof the. kineticY energy of the water is absorbed in this operation,'thus substantially reducing the velocity ofthefiwater discharged fromthe aerator.

Figure 5 illustratesv a modification of .this invention in` which likeparts serving the same iunction'will be given the same numerical desig-.nation with .theaddition of the exponent a.

It is readily apparent that the only difference f betweenfthismodication and the preferred emv-.bodiment is in the elimination of thecasing III.

' In this modication the. cap I4a threadably en gages the source of4water under pressure, such as the fspout 46 of a common kitchenxture,awhich in turn is provided with a restricted throat 48 directly abovethe mushroom. ..respectsftheconstruction and operation` of the".modiiicationfis V.identical to the preferred embodi- ...ment

The' operation of the aerator is as follows: 'Water is admitted throughthe inlet 20 from a source of water under pressure (not shown). rThewater then strikes the mushroom 3l) and is llaterally deflected ontothey screen 44. Here 'the streamof v,water is nely brokencup and mixedwith the airV that is drawn through the ...openings v42 by the laterallydeflected water. lThis air is provided through the openings 3B of thecap I4. 'From here the air passes through Vthe vents 34 of thedispersing means into the air .column 38. From said air-column 38 theair is drawn through the openings 42 into the mixing chamber I8 by thestream of water deflected by the mushroom 30 onto the screen 44.

Upon-striking the screen 44 the stream of Y water isfinely divided andthoroughly. mixed ,withair. The water land entrapped air .f then passbetween the U-shaped vents 34 of the/dispersing means 24 and out thedischarge 22, form- Ving a stream or jet of highly aerated-water.

lWhen the rcap I4 is screwed on tightly, v`the .mushroom- 30 contacts.the casing: I0. The-water is forced through thegrooves 32, imparting `ahigh velocity to the water which vcarries with it a large `amount of airrelative tothe Vvolume of the water. This results .in a stream or jet ofWater being discharged through the discharge 22, which .has a very highair content andrei- .atively lowv velocity, and, consequently,.results"inllittle or no splash when the water strikes a solid' surface.

entrapped kin it. It is possible inthis device .to

Acontrol 4"the "amount of airientrapped relative to the' volume fofwater discharged.

' When the cap I4 ispartially .unscrewedlthe dispersing .means 24. beingsupported.n.iponilthe;

ridge 28, is moved vertically downward. The

-1distance zbetween the mushroomr30zand the casing I0 is therebyeiTect-ively controlled' by raising and lowering the cap I4 and thedispersing means 'Y 24. rEhe greater the distance between the mush-'room.'.30 and the casing I0, the smaller the amount of air carried o bythe water is relative charged fromA the aerator. Thus the density..and"velocitytof,;the stream or jet oi water dis- -chargedkcanbefcontrolled by positioning of the y rcap I4.

possible toi-lowerithe cap and thereby reduce .thepamount offairentrapped in the water and In filling a receptacle of water it isincrease the .velocity of the stream of water discharged and therebyexpedite the iilling process.

"It is not uncommon for sand or other foreign .smatter to be carriedinto the aerator by the water or other liquid under pressure. It is asimr ple matter, utilizingthe device hereinv described, to ushout'such'foreign matter whether it is sof . to vary the density and thevelocity ofthe stream In all other trapped between the mushroom 30 andthe casing Ill oron the screen 44. The. capI4`iszunascrewedsuliiciently, to lower the mushroom 30 .a substantial`distance from the casing I0 and permit a large volume oflfwater intothe aerator f lto iiush it out.

Thus, by screwing and unscrewing the cap I4, thereby positioning themushroom 36, it is possible o water discharged from the aerator from ahigh air conte-nt and relatively slow moving stream toa very lowair-content and relatively rapid stream, depending. yupon the resultdesired.

It is to be miderstoodv that various changes in the shapesize andlocation of thevarious parts of the device can be made without departingfrom the spirit of thisinventionandthe scope of the following claims.

, provided with a discharge openingY and defining .a mixing-..chamberwith'said coupling means;

. radial dispersing-means disposed in said mixing chamberdmmediatelybelow saidinlet and ver- .ticallyadjustable withY said cap;-1neansforatimittingairto said mixing chamber;V and.means 'iorafinely dividing.liquid and 'mixing air with Iiig-uid disposed in said. mixing chamber.

2.. An aeratorcomprising: -eoupling vmeans providedfWithanYinlet; .aivertically adjustable. cap provided with adischargeopening and defininga mixing chamber with said coupling means; radial.dispersing-'meansdisposed in said mixing charnber inmediately. belowksaid j inlet and Vvertically adjustable with said cap; air induction:means disposedinisaid mixing ehamberand admitting air tosaidfrnixingchamber'below said radial disfpersingr. means;A and:.meansxfor iinelydividing liquid `enzimi-Xing'air with liquicldisposed inesad housing.

. 3. 4An-aerator comprising: coupling means pro- #videdwith a-n inlet; avertie'ally adjustable cap provided with al discharge vopening anddeiining a mixing'chamber withsaid 'coupling means;iradial dispersingmeans .disposed in said Vmixing.Qcham- "bei" 'immediately below saidinlet and vertically adjustable withsaid cap; .means formingan aircolumn VIdisposed' below said,.,radial vdispersing v,means land provided`withopenings immediately below said dispersing means; means-.lforming avent -toethe. atmospherel to :said air column ;1 and means for finelydividing liquid and mixing air with liquid disposed in said housing.

4. in a device of the class described, the combination of: couplingmeans provided with an inlet and adapted to be attached to a source ofliquid under pressure; a vertically adjustable cap provided with adischarge openingr and defining in cooperation with said coupling meansa mixing chamber; radial dispersing means disposed in said mixingchamber immediately below said inlet and vertically adjustable with saidcap; means for admitting air into said mining chamber immediately belowsaid dispersing means; and a screen for iinely dividing liquid andmixing air with liquid disposed in said mixing chamber surrounding saiddispel-sing means.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of: couplingmeans provided with an inlet and adapted to be attached to a source ofliquid under pressure; a vertically adjustable cap provided with adischarge opening and defining in cooperation with said coupling means amixing chamber; a radial dispersing member disposed in said mixingchamber immediately below said in let, vertically adjustable with saidcap and provided with a plurality of grooves thereby permitting flowinto said mixing chamber when said dispersing member bears against saidcoupling means; and means for finely dividing liquid disposed in saidmixing chamber and means admitting air to said mixing chamber.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a housingdening a mixing chamber and provided with an inlet and a dischargeOpern. ing; radial dispersing means, disposed in said housingimmediately below said inlet; means admitting air to said mixing chamberimmediately below said dispersing means; means for vertically adjustingsaid radial dispersing means with respect to said inlet; and means fornely dividing liquid disposed in said mixing chamber, said radialdispersing means diverting flow from said inlet onto said dividingmeans.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a housingdefining a mixing chamber and provided with an inlet and a dischargeopening; radial dispersing means disposed in said housing immediatelybelow said inlet; means for vertically adjusting said radial dispersingmeans with respect to said inlet; means for admitting air to said mixingchamber; and means for finely dividing liquid and mixing air with liquiddisposed in said mixing chamber.

8. In an aerator of the type provided with a housing and a water inlet,the combination of: a delecting member, conduit means for enclosing anair column secured to and disposed below said deflecting member andprovided with openings below said deflecting member, a base adapted tobe retained in said housing for supporting said conduit means anddeiieotor member, and means forming vents to said conduit means andsecuring said conduit means to said base.

9. In an aerator of the type provided with a housing and a water inlet,the combination of: a conduit means for enclosing an air column, ventmeans for admitting air to said conduit, a defiector member secured toand disposed above said conduit means to radially deflect water admittedthrough said inlet, and a base member adapted to be retained in saidhousing for supporting said conduit means and deilector member withinsaid housing.

10. A water aerator comprising: a housing having a water inlet thereindirecting flow along a path through said housing, water dividing meansoutside the normal path of now through said housing, means for admittingair into said housing, and deflecting means in said housing, saiddeiiecting means being movable to a rst position defiecting water out ofits normal path of dow through said housing onto said water dividingmeans and then back to its normal now path whereby water flowing throughsaid housing is aerated, said dedecting means being .further movable toa second position Where said water is deflected through a smaller anglefrom its normal path of iiow through said housing for varying the degreeof aeration of such water.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,027,321 Cleveland May 21, 1912 1,328,204 Sanford Jan. 13,1920 2,140,517 Dawson Dec. 20, 1938 2,176,579 Buttner Oct. 17, 19392,210,846 Aghnides Aug. 6, 1940 2,316,832 Aghnides Apr. 20, 19432,492,037 Freeman et al Dec. 20, 1949 2,510,395 Goodrie June 6, 19502,510,396 Goodrie .June 6, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date323,482 Great Britain Jan. 1, 1930

